How serious is the 49ers' wide receiver problem?

Heading into training camp, analysts already had questions about the 49ers' depth at wide receiver. San Francisco traded away Deebo Samuel, and Brandon Aiyuk is still rehabbing from a serious knee injury suffered less than 10 months ago. Aiyuk isn't expected to play until—at best—Week 6, possibly later.

That left Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall as the projected Week 1 starters. However, Pearsall is entering just his second NFL season and missed the first six games of his rookie year while recovering from a gunshot wound. Jennings has been sidelined for most of training camp with a lingering calf injury, and there's no clear timetable for his return.

"Jauan is a calf that he missed all last training camp with," head coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday. "It's something that we don't think will be too serious, but it's bothering him now. ... I always want guys out there. It helps him, it helps the team. But Jauan was all right last year, too, missing some time."

Oh, and Jennings wants a new contract. So, there's that, too.

Tim Kawakami of The San Francisco Standard believes both sides have limited leverage, but the 49ers know they need Jennings in the lineup given the state of the receiving corps. It's almost frightening to imagine heading into Week 1 without him lining up across from Pearsall.

Kawakami predicts a short-term solution: "The 49ers tack on another year with a deal worth a total of $22 million, with a moderate $5 million guaranteed as a bonus now and the rest lined up as non-guaranteed salary or option bonuses triggered next spring."

Such a deal would briefly put Jennings among the top 20 highest-paid receivers while protecting the 49ers, should Jennings be unable to stay on the field.

San Francisco's hope for early help from rookie Jordan Watkins, who impressed in camp, was dashed after he suffered a high-ankle sprain in the preseason opener. He's expected to miss about a month. The team also signed veteran Demarcus Robinson, but he's facing a suspension for a November 2024 DUI arrest while with the Los Angeles Rams.

Other moves have brought little relief. The 49ers signed Equanimeous St. Brown, only to place him on injured reserve last week with a foot injury. Second-year receiver Jacob Cowing is expected to return to practice Tuesday, but he has just four career catches for 80 yards.

Bergen could be forced to help on offense. He was initially drafted to compete for the 49ers' returner job on special teams, but the team has worked him into the offensive lineup during practices.

"That's why we brought him here, because of his return ability that he had in college," Shanahan said. "But he's gotten a lot more opportunities going into this camp, being down more guys than we initially expected. I think he's shown he is ready for it. He's been able to catch the ball good, he's learned the playbook, we've been able to put him in there and use him as a receiver, and that definitely helps his chances."

Many fans hoped the 49ers might pursue a proven veteran like Keenan Allen, but he re-signed with the Chargers on a one-year, $8.5 million deal. Other veteran options remain, including Amari Cooper, whose name came up Monday when The Athletic's Matt Barrows asked Shanahan if the team might seek a higher-profile addition.

"It is a challenge," Shanahan admitted of the roster situation. "There's possibilities later. None are guaranteed. And there's lots of things that are tied to that—who's available, how much they're available for, and the situation our team's in, salary cap-wise and stuff, and what we can do.

"But yeah, we're looking into everything. We'll always try to do the best, but try not to just panic and do something to survive a tough situation at the expense of what would really hurt you later in this year, and definitely next year."

The 49ers' wide receiver depth chart is currently a patchwork of injuries and inexperience. It looks incredibly thin without Jennings in the lineup for Week 1. While Shanahan isn't ready to push the panic button, the clock is ticking, and any further setbacks could force the 49ers' hand in making a bold move before the season begins.